Pacquiao Insider Rivera: Marquez Can Only Win With Lucky Leprechaun Punch! By John Chavez
LAS VEGAS–They may not run in the same social circles, given their age difference, but Boxingconfidential.com has two cracked, I mean crack reporters in the San Francisco Bay Area. One is John Chavez and the other is veteran Pinoy reporter Hermie Rivera.
While I have been tied up on important business at The Playboy Club and Ghostbar at The Palms, Chavez and Rivera has been covering the daily doings of Team Pacquiao and Team Marquez nearby at the Mandalay Bay like seven eighths of the world is covered by oceans. Me, I am like one of those social parasites who arrives fashionably late at the party.
Anyway, our Roving Rivera, who seems magnetized to Pacman whenever Megamanny lands on U.S, shores, phoned up to give his last-minute take on the Big Rematch. Hermie’s been reading his tea leaves like a psycho, er I mean a physic, and he likes what he is seeing.
“The weight is perfect,” Rivera said. “Manny told me in Los Angeles that he wanted to surprise everyone by coming in just a bit under the limit so 129 is a very good weight as that was right at his target. I think Manny said he would make 128 but he is only one pound above that. Now he will eat and replenish himself with plenty of fluids so he will be a monster when he climbs into the ring.”
As far as the outcome of the bout, being a loyal Pinoy and Manny pal, he sees MP winning either by knockout or by decision but definitely winning.
What shocked me, the jaded veteran, was Rivera’s mentioning that Marquez can also win but can only win in one manner.
“Lucky punch, if he can catch Manny coming in to attack and he nails Manny with a lucky punch,” Rivera said. “That is really only the one way that the Mexican fighter can win, can score the big upset here.”
But Rivera said Pacman’s marked improvement from their May 2004 first bout makes that occurrence something that cannot happen.
“This is not the same Manny that Marquez fought four years ago. If you watch the tape, you will see Manny hopping all over like a grasshopper and so often really off balance. Four years later, he is so much more polished and has much better technique. I simply don’t see Manny leaving such an opening for Juan Manuel to score the KO with such a lucky blow.”
When last seen, Rivera and Chavez were seen inhaling vodka shots in the Russian Vodka Room, singing “Manny Boy” to the tune of Irish tearjerker “Danny Boy” and proudly wearing their “Let’s Get Ready To Stumble” tee-shirts.
For Hammering Hermie, the Lucky Leprechaun in this fight will be the guy who speaks Tagalog.
Advocate Arum: Pacquiao, At Peak Of His Powers, Will Stop Marquez In Round 8 Or 9!
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO INTERVIEW BY HERMIE RIVERA
Here’s a surprise. Uncle Bob Arum tells Boxingconfidential’s ace reporter, Hammering Hermie Rivera, that Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez will make his greatest ring performance March 15 in Las Vegas against Manny Pacquiao.
Here’s a non-suprise. The 76-year-old promoter and head of Top Rank says that won’t be enough to stop the Pinoy idol because, as Arum sees it, Pacman is reaching the peak of his pugilisic powers at the age of 28.
“When they fought before, Manny was a one-handed fighter,” Arum said. “He just used that left hand like a howitzer. Now he can really box along with his punching power and he uses both hands so well. Manny is also in the best condition of his boxing life, far better than the shape he was in for his last two bouts.”
Hermie asked Uncle Bob for a prediction.
“I see Manny being too strong and powerful. He will stop Marquez in the eighth or ninth round.”
San Francisco, CA. — “The best conditioned Manny Pacquiao will face Juan Manuel Marquez on March 15″ the Filipino boxing hero crowed as he met the press on his first Bay Area visit since his torturous draw with Agapito Sanchez at the Civic Center.
Even with a torpid recollection of that bloody fight wherein the Dominican roughneck tried robbing him of his newly acquired title — Pacquiao wants another pugnacious scrap in his pet city by the bay.
And in an outright dig at Marquez’ brag of a more rounded training for their rematch, Pacquiao insists his trainers are superior and have negated whatever advantages the Mexican champ gained by his early start.
So then, both warriors are in shape–their best-ever conditioning brought about by their exacting workouts.
Expect a barn-burner when these intrepid boxers collide at Mandalay Bay Events Center in glitzy Vegas..
This is a must-see thriller made compelling by their mutual enmity engendered by their drawn match four years back.
Since that disputed draw at the MGM Grand, Pacquiao has matured while Marquez aged.
Marquez turns 35 in August and whether he admits it or not, unwanted extra years places one in a situation that entails difficulty for the aging fighter.
A clear-cut winner will emerge in the ‘unfinished business’ featuring today’s remarkable talents in the junior lightweight division.
Manny Pacquiao who is not only strong but skillful as well remains the favorite in the posted odds at various betting centers. (Illegal bookies included.)
Any of the two combative warriors digging too big a hole in the early rounds will find it tough recovering lost ground.
And who’ll pocket all the marbles in this awaited return bout?
It will be highly unlikely for the Mexican defending champ to upset the Filipino lefty who’s on a roll—on a tear, if you please with a ten win streak.
Pacquiao has been ruthlessly productive since losing to Eric Morales.
Unless Marquez starts growing steroid-laden hormones (quite late in the day right?), Pacquiao will have his butt whupped when the battle smoke clears at the Mandalay.
Sorry Juan Manuel but it will take a lot more than a great camp to overcome the smooth rhythm of the power punchin’ Pacman.
By Abac Cordero Philippine Star
Saturday, February 23, 2008
As he enters the most crucial phase of his training, Manny Pacquiao has quashed any concern regarding his weight for the March 15 rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez.
“We will make the weight. No problem,” said Pacquiao as quoted by Hermie Rivera, one of his constant companions in Los Angeles.
Reports coming out of LA last week, barely a month before the fight, placed Pacquiao at 139 lbs compared to Marquez’ 133 lbs, which is just a little over the super-featherweight limit of 130.
Pacquiao is in the peak of his two-month training, and after three more heavy workouts next week, should begin tapering off before he travels to Las Vegas less than a week before the fight.
Pacquiao spars on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at the Wild Card Gym. Last Tuesday he did 10 rounds against Ramon Montano, Juanito Garcia and Raymundo Beltran.
Pacquiao, according to Rivera, a respected Pinoy boxing analyst, is expected to top the 100 rounds of sparring prepared by trainer Freddie Roach.
“At the rate he’s reaching peak form, Pacquiao is executing with ease the drills being imparted by his excellent crew. A well-conditioned challenger will answer the call of Marquez,” he said.
While Pacquiao is in LA, Marquez is doing his thing in Mexico, and based on the calendar is almost a month ahead of Pacquiao in training, saying he normally trains three months for a big fight.
“In the ring there is no such thing as a easy fight or a small challenge, and I keep that in mind and base my philosophy on that when I am preparing for a fight,” Marquez told the Mexican press.
For the last two months now, Marquez has done nothing but train.
His day starts at 4 a.m. with a one-hour run at the snow-covered mountains of Toluca, a few hours of sleep in his home, nutritious breakfast by 9 a.m., gym work at 1 p.m., and back home at 5 p.m. to rest with his family, and dinner of chicken, fish, vegetables and fruits. Lights are out at 9 p.m.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA–THERE’S still a month left before the big fight but Team Pacquiao has sprung a surprise by baring the weapon with which the Pacman hopes to conquer WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico.
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s head trainer, says his ward is having an action-filled outing with his sparmates, hitting them solidly and not betraying any signs of fatigue after backbreaking workouts.
“This is where you’ll kill him,” advised Roach, as Manny cut loose with a three-punch combination they have been perfecting behind closed doors.
“This no-name offensive thrust will surprise the Mexican,” added Roach.
Marquez himself is into a taxing regimen at his Romanza gym in Mexico city.
The sheer consistency of Pacquiao’s victories over Mexican hotshots places Marquez in a hellish spot, and the defending world 130-pound king will have to surpass himself in order to retain his crown at the Mandalay Casino-Hotel on March 15.
Their first encounter in 2004 ended inconclusively, but based on the animosity bred by the drawn bout, the rematch will definitely produce a vastly superior winner.
Marquez says he is fighting Pacquiao to redeem Mexico’s honor. (And Manny is fighting for a slot at Comedy Central?)
Pacquiao himself knows that, more than the purses, the next fight will be for the honor of his country and his countless admirers all over the world.
Two titles are at stake–Ring’s coveted junior lightweight belt and the WBC super-featheweight crown, a concession granted to the Mexican champ for staying unbeaten since his controversial loss to the Indonesian Chris John.
The bar has been raised for the sensational battlers with the Pinoy slugger favored over the smart-boxing Mexican.
But why is the defending champion the underdog in this duel with his mandated challenger?
Pacquiao is younger, stronger and decidedly faster.
And in boxing, as pundits often intone, “there is no substitute for speed.”
The 34-year-old Marquez is a master craftsman, a terrific defender and counter-puncher who has displayed the rare ability to spring back from near-impossible situations.
It will be a war, one that is exciting and infused with the distinctive elements of a great fight.
Four quick-stepping, counter-punching sparring partners are being lined up for Manny Pacquiao who’s not taking any chances in his much-awaited rematch with WBC superfeatherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas on March 15.
Pacquiao arrived in Los Angeles last Monday and was expected to report for light workouts at the Wild Card Gym yesterday. He begins serious sparring sessions early next month in his eight-week timetable of preparations for Marquez.
San Francisco-based boxing scholar Hermie Rivera, who advises Pacquiao on a variety of issues, identified three of the sparmates as Danny Cervantes, Roger (Speedy) Gonzalez and David Rodela. A fourth sparmate, reportedly a black American, is also in the list.
“Keep in mind that Manny needs fighters who can push him and provide counter-punching sparring,” said Rivera, adding that their style should resemble Marquez’.
Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach earlier said he would rotate a platoon of sparring partners to avoid familiarity and anyone getting beaten up badly on a regular basis. Roach noted that Pacquiao has a tendency to ease up on sparmates with whom he has become friendly. Cervantes and Gonzalez are first-timers in Pacquiao’s camp. Rodela has visited the Philippines twice on Pacquiao’s invitation and as a fixture in the rotation, is the only exception to the rule.
As lightwelterweights, Cervantes and Rodela are supposed to withstand the impact of Pacquiao’s punches more than fighters of his division. Gonzalez is a legitimate superfeatherweight who has a Marquez-like counter-punching style. The sparmates will simulate Marquez’ moves and sharpen Pacquiao’s focus in his quest for a third championship. Cervantes and Gonzalez are as tall as Marquez.
Rivera described Gonzalez as “ultra-quick (and) an excellent counter-puncher.” Gonzalez, 29, turned pro in 1996 and has compiled a 27-1 record, with 18 KOs. One of his victims was Filipino veteran Allan Visayas who was knocked out in Maywood, California, last April.
Cervantes is a stylish boxer-counter-puncher, noted Rivera. Cervantes, 22, hasn’t scored a knockout in a 9-0-1 record and is known to dazzle opponents with his quickness and boxing skills.
Rivera said he anticipates a “hassle-free” training for Pacquiao. “Manny is upbeat,” said Rivera. “He will be amply rewarded in his rematch with Marquez as he gears up into a seamless eight-week rigorous grind. He’s got a fine complement of new sparring mates and possibly, a new gameplan to surprise a determined defending champ.”
While Rivera said Marquez can’t be taken lightly, he predicted a rousing victory for the Filipino.
“How can Marquez do better in the rematch when at his prime, he got stewed in the opening round like a sloshed sailor out on a shore pass from the Guadalajara piers?” continued Rivera. “Pacquiao, at 29, is at his peak. Marquez is slowly leaving his time of vigor. His flawed behavior against (Marco Antonio) Barrera and a drab performance against Rocky Juarez say it all.”
Boxing kingmaker Hermie Rivera, known for masterminding the world championship careers of Luisito Espinosa and Morris East, has taken on the challenge of transforming veteran Fernando Montilla into a top-caliber fighter.
For a ring nut like Rivera to give his undivided attention to Montilla says a lot about the 30-year-old half-Filipino, half-Indonesian slugger with a so-so record of 32-20-4, including 22 KOs (11 in the first three rounds).
Rivera’s eyes brighten up when he talks about Montilla, just like they did during Espinosa’s heydey. He doesn’t fall in love with just any pug. There’s got to be something special in a boxer to catch his fancy. Before Espinosa and East, Rivera took care of Socrates Batoto who won the Philippine and OPBF flyweight titles but blew two bids for a world crown. That Rivera managed to secure two championship cracks for Batoto is a testament to his ability to create opportunities for his boys to shine.
But why Montilla? Isn’t he over the hill and ready for pasture?
“Don’t sell the kid short,” says Rivera, sounding like a master salesman. “He may be 30 but he’s still got what it takes to knock you out. I took him to (former world flyweight champion and now highly-touted trainer) Erbito (Salavarria) who sized him up in his gym over at San Francisco del Monte. Erbito agreed Montilla ain’t washed up.”
What makes Montilla a diamond in the rough is his raw power. Rivera says Montilla reminds him of how his main man pulverizes his opponents.
“Montilla’s like Manny when he connects,” continues Rivera, referring to boxing icon Manny Pacquiao whom he now assists as a trouble-shooting, all-purpose consultant. “They used to be sparring partners. They respect each other. Montilla learned a lot from Manny and that’s what I want to build on.”
Rivera says Pacquiao doesn’t know what he has planned for Montilla. “But once he does, I’m sure Manny will be happy for Montilla,” he goes on. “Montilla deserves a break. He’s been a pro too long (since 1994). His life hasn’t taken off. He lives on the second floor of the L&M gym near the Central Market. It’s a hard existence especially since he has a one-year-old kid. All I want is to give Montilla one last chance to prove himself.”
Rivera and Ricky Araullo are partnering to rebuild Montilla’s future.
“We want to take Montilla to the US,” says Rivera. “I think he’ll do better against (WBC lightweight champion) David Diaz than Erik Morales did. I honestly believe Montilla can take out Diaz. I realize a fight like that can’t happen overnight since Montilla isn’t even world rated. But we’re ready to work on it. What I guarantee is Montilla will never back down from anyone. He’s a brawler. His fights are always exciting. If he goes up against a Mexican warrior, you can bet the fans will be on their feet from start to finish.”
Rivera says Montilla, ranked No. 5 by the OPBF, could start his ascent by challenging OPBF champion Randy Suico. “That’s a heckuva match,” says Rivera. “I just don’t know if Joe (Koizumi) would risk Suico fighting Montilla.”
Montilla, who once won 10 fights in a row, is a former Philippine lightweight champion and is coming off a disputed majority draw with Sataporn Singwancha in a WBC Asian Boxing Council lightwelterweight title bout in Thailand. Rivera claims Montilla was robbed blind of the decision. Two Thai judges saw it even while a third Thai judge scored it for Montilla.
If experience is a measure of a fighter’s backbone, Montilla can’t be underestimated. He has fought WBA featherweight champion Chris John, former WBC superfeatherweight titleholder Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai twice and former WBC bantamweight ruler Sirimongkol Singmanasak. In 1998, he battered Australia’s Tony Wehbee black and blue only to lose a controversial split decision in Sydney.
Montilla’s father Federico worked as a bulldozer driver in Ambon, Indonesia, where he was born. He never knew his Indonesian mother. When he was one year old, his father took him and an older sister Connie back to the Philippines. Montilla grew up in Davao and hasn’t seen his father or sister in years. For all intents and purposes, Montilla has been on his own – until Rivera came along.
“I don’t consider Montilla a long shot,” says Rivera. “He’s a born fighter with knockout power. All he needs is a break and I’m sticking my neck out for him.”
Montilla might just get the opportunity to be a late bloomer with Rivera in his corner.
Manny Pacquiao, the compulsive-punching terror of junior, lightweights is headed to an uncharted territory—moving up in weight to battle David Diaz for his WBC lightweight belt at Vegas’ Mandalay’s resort/casino.
The still untitled 12 round championship match marks a dramatic turn for the Filipino ring idol as he intrudes into a new weight section since starting out as a light-flyweight.
The beneficial assistance to Manny in his debut at 135 pounds will be known on March 15—the date his promoter Bob Arum chose for boxing devotees who are intrigued by Pacquiao’s move to drop Juan Manuel Marquez and the other Juan (Diaz) from the upcoming March blockbuster.
Earlier, one of the aspirants Joan Guzman of the Dominican republic was scratched from the Pacman “sweeps”.
Another discard is unbeaten Venezuelan Edwin Valero who has been unheard of since his sparring days with newly retired Marco Antonio Barrera.
It’s been six weight groupings that the GenSan bruiser has involved himself in, garnering two alphabet titles, Ring magazine’s prestigious belt, fighter of the year accolade and pound for pound honors among others.
Other key details of the mega-bout entailing the highest prize-money for Manny and David will be known shortly.
The decision to gun for the lightweight diadem is in fulfillment of a special wish Manny has been coveting since his loss in politics— five world titles in 5 separate weight categories.
And then some which could be the loudest whispered meeting with the inimitable Oscar de la Hoya at 147 pounds.
The highly-fancied “Ides of March face-off” will net for the winner truckloads of current medium of exchange in various denomination.(Dwindling value of the U.S.dollar notwithstanding))
Not to mention the high drama and absolute ring mayhem the willing mixers are bringing to the dance.
To some buffs, Manny’s precipitate jump to David’s ringdom is unexpected knowing that he was serious to stay and sincere to play in his super-featherweight domain.
Why then is he lusting for Diaz’ scalp?
Simple. Manny creamed Erik Morales twice by knockouts while David escaped with a questionable points win over El Terrible in their August 4 clash for the title in Chicago.A nebulous decision even the Filipino smasher assailed when asked for his take on the closely fought title setto.
How Pacquiao will handle his hostile konfrontasi with the Mexican action fighter so as to allow him to get through unscathed will be in full display at a venue where he retired the other Mexican legend— Marco Barrera.
For Diaz, it is important to keep his commitment as demanded by his governing boxing body or else blame will be heaped on his handlers who were’nt good at getting him guys he can’t beat.
OK, Marco Antonio Barrera, stubbornly inflexible for 12 rounds gave Manny Pacquiao a surprise when he lasted the distance before a roaring Las Vegas crowd at Mandalay’s resort/casino.
But the bigger surprise was Manny’s inventive switch from compulsive punching to bonny boxing — an ingenius game plan that frustrated Marco despite Pacquiao’s lack of committed ferocity in the well-applauded rematch.
Pacman’s previous knockout wins has left an impact on his fans who have come to expect it in all of his fights.
Asked why he deviated from his usual norm, Gensan’s slugger fired back rather quizically; “You don’t want your ass kicked by an old man do you?”
Fittingly, Pacquiao’s innovative conquest of Barrera closed the book on one of Mexico’s legends — a masterstroke unlikely to be equalled by a Filipino in the next century or so.
John Whisler of the San Antonio Express earlier wrote that a Pacquiao victory was certain since the Philippines’ finest ringman is just “too young, too explosive and too dynamic.”.
HBO’s Jim Lampley was more emphatic: The Filipino boxing idol is just “too fast, too strong and too good.”
But Pacquiao’s latest coup has posed problems in his weight class.
Manny has dominated the jr. lightweight division thoroughly that a move to the lightweight rung looks imminent.
Categorized at times as super-featherweight, the 130 pound rating was created for fighters who find it too wide to bridge the gap between featherweight (126 lbs.) and lightweight (135 lbs.).
Since tightening his grip on this weight innovation, the 28 year old phenomenon is being lured to move up for big money fights against WBC lightweight boss David Diaz or unbeaten Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz, an aggresive, hard-hitting Mexican who could pull in the crowd for a huge payday..
There is also an on-going scuffle among the other aspirants in both weight allocations to earn a bunchful of mint.
Now, who is likely to have the first crack at Pacquiao’s tower of fortune?
While Juan Manuel Marquez was almost stopped by the General Santos city rougher en route to a debatable draw, he remained unbeaten in his last six fights to include his (oops) pilferage of Marco Barrera’s crown at the MGM grand.
Deserving?
Not quite.
The knock on Marquez is that he’s unexciting. Whether this is an accurate reflection of his style or not will be known only if he gets picked as Pacquiao’s prime opponent.
Promoter Bob Arum has given Manny the authority to negotiate all that’s needed with his next archenemy.
That’s Manny Pacquiao’s clear intent in crushing Marco Barrera’s October hunt for redemption at Vegas’ Mandalay Bay resort/casino.
The Filipino idol is itching to repeat his 11th round knockout of the Mexican three-time champ who’s recklessness at the Alamodome in San Antonio almost ruined his livelihood.
Makes one wonder why Barrera would want to risk it all again.
But Barrera is one good fighter who is now doing it right.
The ring-savvy Guadalajaran has once more become attractive to promoters—6 straight wins since his Texas collapse—minus the theft of his WBC jr.lightweight belt he defended against Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand.
Less than four years since that debacle, Barrera aced all of his opponents to become a viable corrival of the Pinoy ring icon.
Now,Marco is into a bold experiment—that of engaging the services of Edwin Valero, a Venezuelan lefty who has iced all of his 22 victims.( Pedicab drivers?)
So far there’s been no hints of distraction that marred Marco’s preparations.
Nothing vexed Manny’s camp either save for a minor ailment which was readily remedied.
We will know soon if this imported sparmate can deliver for the ‘assassin’ who has been ranting he’ll smash the Pacman for avoiding him like the hated tax hound.
Valero must help his new found padrino. Otherwise, Senor Barrera’s worst fear of getting kayoed one more time will happen.
Marco’s toughness is a given. But his ability to extricate himself from a Pacquiao-orchestrated bind remains his chief headache as we move closer to the highly-awaited classic.
OK, there’s a chance for the multi-titled Mex to pull an upset. But he has to negate Manny’s speed else a bad loss will mark the end of Barrera as a world-class fighter..
Not an easy task since Marco is up against a nasty mangler who nearly converted his boxing license into a sales document that permits him to sell pencils in his cozy Guadalajara.
Fight fans generally want to watch action-sated smokers spiced by punches that twist a fighter’s face which their own Moms can’t recognize.
No problem. In this bout, both combatants are capable of providing one-punch knockouts or the multi-blow variety.
There will be more power punches thrown than those executed in their first encounter—making it a compelling theater steeped in high drama.
No title is at stake this time as decreed by the promoters.
The WBC has been imposing it’s International title belt to extract unjustified sanction fees from the involved fighters.
One of the greatest perfidies since the sale of the Brooklyn bridge more than once by con artists in various eras.
